Retained Scutes

Retained scutes is a condition in which your turtle is unable to shed his scutes.

As turtles grow, they shed their scutes to make room for new ones. If they do not have to proper lighting, heating and diet, they will retain their scutes.

For more information on lighting and diet, go to those sections.

Turtles should shed their scutes regularly as they grow, if they are not shedding them, they are considered retained scutes.

Retained scutes are a sign of poor husbandry as the animal has not been drying off sufficiently to lose its old scutes.

Retained scutes may become fused and infected with algae, bacteria or and sometimes even fungi. The newer `healthier' shell underneath becomes vulnerable to infection.

Soaking the turtle (in warm water)will often help to remove the scutes. The underlying `new' shell should be gently scrubbed to clean off any algae that may have started to grow there.

Causes

Improper Lighting
insufficient Basking
Poor Diet
Hight water temperatures
Poor filtration

Remedies

Correct the husbandry, provide the proper lighting
- For more information on lighting, go to the lighting section
Correct the diet
- For diet information, please go to the diet section
Add Wheat Germ pellets to the diet
- Make sure that they do not contain garlic
Add vitamin A and E foods to the diet
Antifungal scrubs

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